Earth-boring machine



W. E. MOORE.

EARTH BORING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APIL23. I9I9.

Patented Nov. E5, WZL

1&972394@ 3 SHEETS*SHEET L Y W'. E. MOORE.

EARTH BORING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APII.23. IsIQ.

13,397,324., Patented Nov. 15, 192k 3 SHEETShSHEET 2.

W. E. MOORE.

EARTH BomNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 23. IBIS.

5M z, A W0 UNITED si-Arss PATENT ori-fics.

WILLIAM E. MOORE, OF GHIGAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSVIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO INTERNATIONAL EARTH-BORING MACHINE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OB' DELAWARE @ARTE-BORING MACHINE.

Specification' of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 192i.

Application led April 23, 1919. Serial No. 292,133.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that ll, WILLIAM E. Moons, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicarro, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Earth-Boring Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to earth boring machines. f

It is particularly applicable to earth bor- .y

ing machines of the mobile type. Y.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved earth boring machine especially adapted to boring holes for telegraph, telephone and electric car line poles or for concrete foundation piers and the like.

Another object is to provide an earth boring machine wherein the mobile vehicle may be an automobile truck, the motor of the truck supplying the power for the various operations of the boring tool.

Another object is to provide an improved earth boring machine wherein the boring tool maybe easily, quickly and accurately positioned above the work.

Another object is to provide an earth boring machine wherein the power plant and the boring tool are independently supported by the vehicle.

Another object is to provide an earth boring machine of the turntable type wherein the weight of the motor is not added to the upward thrust of the auger.

Another object is to provide an earth boring machine having a turntable to facilitate positioning the auger and wherein the motor Jfor operating the auger is mounted independently of the turntable.

Another object is to provide an earth boring machine of the turntable type, wherein the motor is mounted independently' of the turntable and may operate the auger in any position of the turntable.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the specification'and claims.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawingsl Figure 1 is a side'elevation and partial section of an earth boring machine with the auger swung. to the rear of thel vehicle.

Fig. 2 is a section through the axis of the turntable with the auger swung to the side of the vehicle.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation with the auger swung to the rear. 4

Fig.4 is a top plan with the auger swung to the rear.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of part of the auger controlling mechanism.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional View of part of the auger tower tilting mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of a part of the auger rotating and elevating mechanism.

The earth boring machine comprises, in general, a vehicle supporting a turntable upon which an auger tower is tiltably mounted. A motor, carried by the vehicle independently of the turntable, furnishes the power for propelling the vehicle and operating the auger.

rllhe motor, being mounted independently of the turntable, does not add its weight to the upward thrust of the auger when holes are being bored, or to the weight of the boring mechanism. The turntable is therefore more easily rotated to position the auger. Furthermore, the turntable and vehicle are 4less liable to be overturned when the auger is at work.

The drive from the motor of the vehicle to the boring mechanism is through the axis of the turntable so that the turntable may be readily rotated to position the auger and the auger may be operated in any position or during the rotation of the turntable.

rlhe boring mechanism, designated as a whole, by the letter A, is carried by a vehicle B. rlhe vehicle illustrated is an ordina-ry automobile truck. rlFhe chassis frame 10 of the truck is supported upon wheels 11 in the usual manner. The motor of the truck illustrated is a gasolene engine 12. The engine furnishes power for driving the truck and operating the boring tool.

The engine drives the vehicle through suitable gears located in a transmission housing 13, a tumble shaft 14 and suitable differentiating gearing. rlhe truck is steered in the usual manner by a steering wheel 15.

Anoperators lever 16 controls the connection and disconnection of the engine and the truck wheels and boring mechanism. Lever 16 through a rod 16b controls a gear wheel 16a which is driven by the engine. Gear wheel 16a may be moved into engageboring mechanlsm. Control gearing of this character is well known and is illustrated only diagrammatically.

A chain 17 and suitable sprocket wheels interconnect shaft 16 and a shaft 18. Shaft 18 is connected by a universal joint 19 tov a shaft 20. Shaft 20 is connected, by a universal joint 21, with a horizontal shaft 22 which is supported in bearings 23 and 24 on turntable C. Shaft 22 carries a miter gear 25 which meshes with another miteigear 26 011 a vertical shaft 27 extending through the axis of turntable C.

A miter gear wheel 28 upon the upper end of driving shaft 27 meshes with a bevel gear wheel 29 carried on the end of a horizontal shaft 30.

The passage of driving shaft 27 through the axis of the turntable allows the boring mechanism to .be operated in any position of the turntable, or while the turntable is being rotated. Consequently holes may be bored at the rear or either side of the vehicle without the necessityv of altering *the relation of any of the driving connections.

The turntable is mounted upon and secured to a platform 31 composed of a series of cross sills 32 and a floor 33, having therebelow two longitudinally extending sills 34. This platform structure is secured to the chassis frame 10 by means of vertically extending bolts 35, which pass through cross sills 36 located below the side frame members 10 and upwardly into ears 37 which projects, from turntable C. The front end of the platform structure may be secured to the frame members 10 by any suitable means, such, for example, as bolts 38. Secured to the longitudinal members 34 of the platform structure are eye beams 39 and ,40 which extend transversely of the frame and which support bearings 141 and 142 for shaft 18.

Turntable C includes a ring 41 having an inwardly extending fiange 42 and an outwardly extending flange 43. From this ring projects the attaching ears 37, more clearly shown in Fig. 1.

On top of flange 43 and secured thereto by proper means, is a flat ring 44, perforated by a series of spaced apart openings 45, to receive holding pins 46. Pins 46 also pass through beams 47 'to hold the turntable and the boring mechanism carried thereby in adj usted position.

The movable element of the turntable includes a ring 48 which is provided with an outwardly extending peripheral flange 49. Flange 49 is rotatable between fiange 42 and plate 44 and is spaced therefrom by a series of anti-friction bearing balls 50, 51. A retaining plate 52 holds the set of bearing balls 5() in place while a similar plate 53 performs the same function for the set of bearing balls 51. Pressure imposed upon ring 48, either downwardly or upwardly, on one side or the other, isf opposed by the series of friction reducinoballs 50 or 51, in accordance with the direction of resistance placed upon the ring.

Ring 48 is supported by a series of spokes or arms 54, which converge toward its axis and join in a hollow hub 55. The hollow hub is supported upon a sleeve 56 which is held in place by a series of webbed spokes or arms 57.

The frame that supports the auger and its driving mechanism is composed of two inner parallel beams 47, and outer, parallel beams 58 and 59, suitably held together by cross beams 60, 61 and 62.

The transmission mechanism D, for operating the auger in the auger frame or tower E, is more clearly shown in Fig. 5 and consists of the horizontal shaft 30, supported in a bearing 63, located on a cross sill 64, that connects beams 47 together. Cn the projecting end of shaft 30 are fixed miter gears 65 and 66. A transversely extending shaft 67 is journaled in bearings 68,69,70 and 71 secured to the respective beams 58, 47 and 59. A bevel gear wheel 71 is fixed t0 shaft 67 and has driving relation with the bevel gear wheel 65. Another bevel gear wheel 72 is fixed to a sleeve 73 which passes through bearing 70. Gear wheel 72 meshes with bevel gear wheel 65 on shaft 30, and is adapted to be turned in opposite direction from that in which gear wheel 71 is turned. The gear wheel 72 is provided with a clutch member 74 for cooperation with a slidable clutch member 75 which is driven by and longitudinally movable of shaft 67. A bevel gear wheel 76 is fixed to one end of sleeve 73 and is in driving relation with gear wheel 66, on shaft 30. Gear wheel 7 6 is provided with a clutch member 77 having coperative relation with the slidable clutch member 75. v

Fixed to sleeve 73, on its outer'projecting end, is a sprocket wheel 78. Sprocket wheel 78 drives chain 79. When clutch member 75 is in coperative contact with clutch member 74 on gear 72, chain 79 will be driven in one direction. When "clutch member 75 is moved so that it makes co erative connection with clutch member 7 on wheel 76, chain 79 will be driven in the opposite direction.

A lever 80 is pivoted at 81, to the cross sill 82, and is extended to. form an operators aeaaaea lever 83 for shifting clutch member 75. A sprocket wheel 84 is loose onV shaft 67 and carries a clutch member 85 for coperative association with a slidable clutch member 86 which is driven by and longitudinally movable along shaft 67. The sprocket wheel 84 drives a chain 87 when clutch members 85 and 86 are in engagement. The clutch member 86 is operated by an operators lever 88, which is pivoted at 89 to cross beam90.

The auger tower E is conveniently made with four parallel angle beams or posts 100 connected together on all sides at frequent intervals by braces 102 and 103, which cross each other, to firmly hold the beams in spaced relation. At their lower ends, posts 100 are cut away, as at 104, to admit the housing or gear box 105 which provides a bearing for a sleeve 106. Sleeve 106 forms a part of a miter `gear 108. The sleeve 106 is perforated by a rectangular axial opening for accommodation of a rectangular auger shaft 107. Auger shaft 107 is connected to the auger 109 by a suitable coupling 109. lThe arrangement is such that when miter gear 108 is rotated, auger shaft 107 is positively rotated thereby and by this means the auger is revolved to perform its bearings 111 and 112, for a rotatable shaft' 113 which carries a sprocket wheel for an endless chain 114. Chain 114 is connected to a rectangular member 115 which is suitably connectedto the upper end of auger shaft 107 and which slides in the guideway provided by the four posts 100. Bearings 116, 117 and 118 are supported on beam 59 and beams 47, respectively, and afford rotatable support for a transversely extending shaft 119 upon which are mounted two sprocket wheels, for chains 79 and 87. end of shaft 119 is fixed a miter gear 120 which meshes with miter gear 108 for rotating the auger. The lower end of auger tower E is pivotally supported in bearings 117, 118. Extending transversely of the auger tower, near its lower end, is a shaft 121, which carries a sprocket wheel 122, around which a chain 123 is placed. A similar sprocket wheel 122 is secured to a sleeve which is rotatably carried on shaft 119. The sleeve of'sprocket wheel 122 also carries a sprocket wheel over which passes sprocket chain 79.

Located in the substantial transverse center of tower E is a sprocket wheel 125 secured .to -shaft 121.

Chain 114 extends over sprocket wheel 125, at the bottom of the auger tower, and the sprocket wheel on shaft 113, at the top of the tower.

To the inner When clutch member 75 is moved to,engage clutch Imember` 74, gear wheels 65 and 72 drive chain 114 in one direction, through lthe drive of the shaft.

Bearings 111 and 112, at the top of the' auger tower, are adj ustably mounted on cap 110 so that undue strain or vslack in chain 114 may be prevented or corrected.

Outwardly diverging braces 128, 129 are connected at their upper ends to the tower by pivots 130, and are pivoted at their lower ends upon a shaft 119, at one side, and upon a bearing 131 at the other side. These braces will hold the tower in vertical position to prevent lateral displacement and at the same time they are movable upon the same axis upon which the tower is moved when it is inclined.

rlhe auger tower may be tilted about its horizontal axis to give the desired inclination to the holes being bored or to move the tower to carrying position. The tower is securely held at any inclination.

A pair of screw threaded rods 132 are pivoted at their lower ends to beam 47 by pivot lugs 133. Bearings 135, carried by two of tower posts 100, provides journals for aI tubular shaft 136. Shaft 136 carries a bearing 137 at each end. One bearing 137 contains an internally threaded rotatable sleeve 138. Sleeve 138 has a bevel gear wheel 139 secured to its upper end. The other bearing 137 contains a similar internally threaded sleeve 140 which carries a bevel gear wheel 141 at its lower end. r1`he threads of sleeves 138 and 140 coperate with the threads on rods 132.

Sleeves 138 and 140 are rotated by 'a tubular shaft 143 through bevel gear wheels`144 and 145 which mesh respectively with gear wheels 139 and 141. Shaft 143 has a bevel gear wheel 146 secured thereto. Gear wheel .146 engages a bevel gear wheel 147, secured to the upper end of a shaft 148. Shaft 148 is journaled in bearings 149 and 150 which are mounted on one of the tower posts 100. Shaft 148 has a bevel gear wheel 151 at its lower end. A transverse shaft 152 carrying a hand wheel 153 is provided with a bevel gear wheel 154 which meshes with gear wheel 151.

The rotation of hand wheel 153 rotates threaded sleeves 138 and 140 through gear wheels 154-151, shaft 148, gear wheels 147 and 146, shaft 143 and gears 144-139 and 145--141, respectively. The threaded coperation of sleeves 138 and 140 and rods 132 causes the rods to be fed through their sleeves in one direction or the other. The feeding of rods 132 through sleeves 138 and 140 serves to incline the auger tower.

The screw threads on rods 132, are like in character and therefore the threaded sleeves thereon must be rotated in the same direction in order that the shafts may act in unison to produce' the same direction of movement in the auger tower. To accomplish this result miter gear 139 in positioned above its coperating gear 144, while on the other side miter gear 141 is positioned below the miter gear y 145. outer sleeve 143 is rotated, by means of shaft 148. the screw threaded sleeves 138 and 140 are thereby rotated in the same'direction for the purpose of raising and lowering the tower, to vary its extent of inclination.

'lhe operation of the device is substantially as follows: .YVhen it is desired to raise auger 109, operators lever 83 is lnoved so that clutch member 7 wll make contact with clutch member 74 of miter gear wheel 72.-

T his will operate, as will be readily understood` to depress the auger andk this is accomplished while the auger is boring into the earth. Then it is desirable to lift the auger, clutch member 75 is moved in the opposite direction until it makes coperative engagement with clutch member 77, of miter gear 76, when the auger will be raised from the hole which it has bored. W'hen clutch member 75 occupies a mid-way position, the auger will be neither raised nor lowered by the means described.V Y

Then it is desired to rotate the auger, lever 88 is moved to place the sliding clutch member 86 on shaft 67 into driving Contact with clutch member 85. By this means the auger will be rotated in the direction to perform its desired function, through the operation of gears 120 and 108, as will be clearly understood from the foregoing description.

By means of operators lever 16 the engine may be disconnected from the wheels of the truck while the boring operations are in progress. By the same lever the boring mechanism may be disconnected and the engine connected to the wheels for moving the machine from place to place. The boring mechanism may be swung from the position shown in Fig. 1 to any position desired, such as that shown in Fig. 2, and held in such positions by inserting the pins 46-46 in the perforations 45 of the ring 44. Turntable of the machine may be moved circumferentially by hand, as the turn table lis provided with ball bearings by which very little friction is interposed to the movement of the mechanism thereon.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. An earth boring machine comprising an Consequently when ing said mechanism, a vehicle upon which said turntable 1s mounted, and a motor mounted upon said vehicle independently of 4 causing the motor to drive the vehicle andl the auger alternately.

3. An earth boring machine comprising aA vehicle, a turntable mounted on said vehicle, an auger carried by said turntable, a motor mounted on the vehicle independently of said turntable, means to alternately connect the vehicle and the auger to the motor and to disconnect both vehicle and auger from the motor. A

4. An earth boring machine having in combinative association a horizontal frame, a turntable upon which the frame is rotatably mounted, an auger tower in which an auger shaft is axially movable, an auger secured to the lower end of the shaft, and means extending through the axis ofthe turntable to drive the auger.

5. An earth boring machine having in combinative association a horizontal frame, a turntable upon which one end of the frame is rotatably mounted, an auger tower mounted on the other end of the frame and in which an auger shaft is axially movable, an auger securedto the lower end of the shaft, power transmitting means extending through the axis of the turntable to rotate the auger, and means to raise and lower the auger in said tower.

6. An earth boring machine having in combinative association ahorizontal frame,

an `auger-tower having its lower end pivoted to the frame, a pair of laterally diverging braces pivoted directly to opposite sides of the tower, intermediate the tower ends, and having their lower ends pivoted to the frame in an axial line with the tower pivot, and screw threaded shafts to move the tower on its pivots.

7. An earth boring machine having in combinative association a horizontal frame, an auger-tower having its lower end pivoted to the frame, a pair of laterally diverging braces pivoted to the opposite sides of the tower and intermediate the tower ends and having their lower ends pivoted to the frame in an axial line with the tower pivots, a pair of screw threaded shafts, each pivoted to the frame at one Vend and to the tower at the other end, a rotatable nut on each shaft, and means to rotate said nuts simultaneously to incline the tower on its pivots. I

8. An earth boring machine comprising a vehicle having an engine, for driving the same, a rotatable turntable carried by the Gill Vehicle, a rotatable and longitudinally movable auger shaft carried by the turntable, and means for rotating the auger shaft from the engine, said means passing through the axis of the turntable so that the auger shaft may be rotated in any position of the turntable.

9. An earth boring machine comprising a vehicle driven by a motor, a turntable mounted on the vehicle, a rotatable and longitudinally movable auger shaft carried by the turntable, driving connections extending through the axis of the turntable and interconnecting the engine and auger shaft so that the engine may rotate and longitudinally move the auger shaft in any position of the turntable.

10. An earth boring machine comprising a vehicle having a driving motor, a turntable mounted upon the vehicle, a'tiltable auger tower mounted upon the turntable, a rotatable and longitudinally movable auger shaft adjacent the tower and supported thereby, and driving connections extending between the motor and the auger shaft and through the axis of the turntable to communicate power from the motor to rotate and longitudinally move the auger shaft in any position of the turntable and the auger tower.

11. An earth boring machine comprising a vehicle, a motor for driving the vehicle, a turntable carried by the vehicle and movable relative to the motor thereof, boring mechanism carried by the turntable, and driving connections between the motor and boring mechanism and extending through the axis of the turntable so that the motor may drive the boring mechanism yin various positions of the turntable.

12. An earth boring machine comprising a vehicle, a turntable mounted thereon, a motor for driving the vehicle and carried thereby independently of the turntable, an auger tower pivoted to the turntable, a rotatable auger shaft mounted adjacent the auger tower and longitudinally movable thereof, power connections ldriving through the axis of the turntable and interconnectingthe motor and auger shaft, means for controlling the power of the engine to the vehicle and the auger shaft, and means for independently' controlling the rotation and longitudinal movementof the auger shaft.

13. An earth boring machine comprising a vehicle, a turntable mounted thereon, an auger tower pivotally carried by the turntable, a rotatable and longitudinally movable auger shaft mounted adjacent and supported by the auger tower, a motor carried by the vehicle independently of the turntable and driving connections between the motor and the vehicle and auger shaft, the connections between the motor and auger shaft extending through the anis of the turntable.

- 14. An earth boring machine comprising an auger tower, a rotatable auger shaft carried adjacent the tower and longitudinally movable thereof, a turntable carrying the tower, a vehicle upon which the turntable is mounted, anengine mounted on the vehicle independently of the turntable, a driving connection extending from the engine to the auger shaft through the axis of the turntable so that the engine may operate the auger shaft in any position of the turntable, means for causing the engine t0 independently rotate and longitudinally move the auger shaft, and power connections between the engine and the wheels of the vehicle.

15. A machine of the character described, having in combinative association a motor truck; a boring mechanism mounted thereon; a turntable upon which the auger of the boring machine is directly mounted; means for operating the auger of the boring machine from the power shaft of the engine of the motor truck, and means on the turntable for reversing the operation of the auger so as to withdraw it from its work.

16. A device of the character described, having in combinative association a motor truck; a turntable mounted on the chassis thereof; a boring machine mountedvon the turntable, and means for driving the said boring machine from the driving shaft of the motor truck engine through the axis of the turntable.

17. The combination of a vehicle, a motor for propelling the vehicle, an auger tower pivoted at its bottom to the vehicle so that it may be tilted in a vertical plane, an auger shaft longitudinally and rotatably supported within the auger tower, power transmitting mechanism for causing the vehicle motor to rotate the auger shaft, power transmitting means for causing the motor to drive the auger shaft longitudinally of the tower, and means for independently associating the motor with the vehicle, with the mechanism for rotating the auger shaft and with the mechanism for driving the auger shaft longitudinally of the tower.

18. rIhe combination of a vehicle, a motor for propelling the vehicle, an auger tower pivoted at its bottom to the vehicle so that it may be tilted in a vertical plane to various boring and to carrying positions, an auger shaft longitudinally and rotatably supported adjacent the tower, power transmitting mechanism for causing the motor to rotate the auger shaft, independent power transmitting means for causing the motor to elevate and lower the auger shaft independently the rotation thereof, control means for independently associating the motor with the power transmitting mechanism for rotating the auger shaft and with the power transmitting means for elevating and lowering the auger shaft, and ans for connecting and disconnecting the motor and vehicle and the motor and the power transmitting mechanism and power transmitting means.

` 19. A portable earth boring machine comprisin a vehicle, an auger tower carried by the ve icle and pivoted to tilt about a horizontal axis to various operating and to carrying positions, an auger shaft rotatably and longitudinally sup orted adjacent the tower,'

a motor for propel ing the vehicle, means for rotating the auger shaft, means for longitudinally moving the auger shaft, power transmitting mechanism interconnecting the motor with the means for rotating` and the means for lon itudinally moving the auger shaft, and imapendently operated clutches for independently completing and interrupting the connection between the motor and the vehicle and between the motor and thev dinally move the auger shaft independently of its rotation.

In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name.

WILLIAM E. MOORE. 

